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Bold Predictions Heading Into WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders, & Chairs 2018

WWE presents TLC: Tables, Ladders and Chairs on Sunday night in San Jose, California and with 11 matches on the card between the pre-show and main show, there's a lot to try and predict. TLC will begin at 7 p.m. ET with the show expected to last anywhere from three to four hours, not counting the kickoff show.

We'll run you through the biggest matches on the card, ignoring the ones we know nobody cares about — which is probably a lot more matches than the ones people do care about —and try to predict the winners, maybe even how they'll win. Agree with us? Don't agree with us? As the new Daniel Bryan would say, we don't really care.

While Jinder Mahal and Alicia Fox make sense as opponents for R-Truth and Carmella, is there any reason to assume this won't be an easy win for the team that has gotten the idea of a dance break over? Any time a Superstar or team makes something so little so popular, you know WWE is going to try and ride its wave for a while.

This one's a no-brainer really. Any other outcome doesn't make a lot of sense considering what's been going on during WWE programming over the last month.

Pick: R-Truth & Carmella win the Mixed Match Challenge

Rey Mysterio vs. Randy Orton (Chairs Match)

via wwe.com

Mysterio hasn't been back long enough with WWE to make a loss not feel like a setback or waste of a returning talent. While these two are no strangers to each other, Mysterio needs the win to show that he's really a star who is back with the company and hard to defeat. Another loss hurts that momentum, while a win over a decorated talent like Orton does a lot of Mysterio's push.

So too, Orton has been getting the better of Mysterio for the most part since these two started up with each other and that typically signifies a win for the victim.

Raw Women's Championship -- Ronda Rousey (c) vs. Nia Jax

via wwe.com

The fact that Nia Jax is even feuding with Ronda Rousey is because there was concern Rousey was garnering boos from the audience when pitted against Becky Lynch and/or Charlotte Flair. Putting her in a program with Jax assured the audience hopped back on Rousey train because there's no one more hated by the WWE Universe than Jax right now.

WWE wants to move past this feud, Rousey should pick up the easy win and the company gets Jax off the mic, where to be frank, she's terrible. The longer this drags out, the worse for Rousey. Rousey wins with the armbar and the crowd thanks her for putting Jax back in her place since she tried to destroy Lynch's face.

Pick: Ronda Rousey retains the title

WWE Championship -- Daniel Bryan (c) vs. AJ Styles

via wwe.com

This is a trickier one to predict because there are sound reasons to select either one of these competitors as a viable winner. Bryan's recent work as a heel has been nothing short of marvelous. He seems so comfortable playing his new role as the arrogant and despicable cheater. Meanwhile, AJ Styles could really use a big win upon his return to WWE after a bit of time away.

It may be the case where Styles wins but he certainly won't end up with the title. In fact, it wouldn't be shocking to see Bryan intentionally lose the match just to keep the belt. That's the type of thing his character would embrace right now.

Depending on what you think the best future storyline is involving these three women and Ronda Rousey, you may predict a different winner coming out of this match. What happens here will shape where each woman goes when the match is all said and done.

If you believe surprise is good and that Asuka needs to be reestablished as a top talent in the Women's Division, you'll choose The Empress of Tomorrow to pick up the shocking win. Neither Flair nor Lynch needs the title to be popular, so it makes some sense.

If you think Flair needs the belt to be a top-level heel, maybe you give the edge to her and potentially she turns on Lynch to take her "friend's" title away. After all, the eventual plan is Lynch vs Rousey and the belts don't matter in that equation.

If you believe Lynch is way too popular to take the belt off of her, she picks up the more obvious win and her and Rousey battle in a non-title bout where the two top women go head to head.

This match is a coin flip.

Pick: Becky Lynch retains title

Intercontinental Championship -- Seth Rollins (c) vs. Dean Ambrose

via wwe.com

Raw is down so many top competitors right now, they need to elevate Seth Rollins into a bigger role and that means putting him the picture for the Universal Championship. When Lesnar returns, Rollins may be the man to challenge him for the title.

That would leave Ambrose as the ideal heel Intercontinental Champion and give him a big win, even if he has to cheat to get there.